Holiday Wish: A Local Team

JEFF RUSNAK ON SOCCER

By my count, there were 18 international matches played in South Florida in 2004, and of the 20 teams from 13 countries that filled those dates, all came from within this hemisphere.

In all, seven matches involved Haiti, five featured United States national and youth teams, and three gave us Mexican teams in three age groups. Four of the 18 matches were World Cup qualifiers, four featured Freddy Adu with the U.S. under-20 team, and one was nearly played in an empty stadium because of Hurricane Frances.

Lockhart Stadium hosted 11 games, the Orange Bowl six and Ted Hendricks Stadium in Hialeah one. Cumulative attendance was about 140,000 for 15 dates (there were three doubleheaders) for an estimated average of 9,272 fans per date.

Such is the soccer synopsis for South Florida this year. We got about the same number of games the Fusion used to play in a calendar year at Lockhart, only instead of one team to follow, we had 20. In a case of the net falling well short of the gross, I'd trade the 20 for the one any day.

Rather than a league season that becomes part of a franchise history, we had a year that lacked form in terms of scheduling and had too little substance because most games were friendlies. While fans usually got their money's worth, it was no substitute for having a local club that delivers a compelling storyline.

We were on the brink of having such a club until the plug was pulled on the Fusion three years ago. Sadly, you'd need the Hubble Telescope to see another MLS team in South Florida's future.

We have three stadiums that could house a team, including Pro Player Stadium when the Marlins eventually move out, and right now, none is good enough. MLS has pretty much soured on Lockhart because of the Fusion's early lack of support. The OB, even in a downsized state that's been proposed, would still be too cavernous. And besides, Miami-Dade isn't likely to support an MLS team any better than Broward did.

While Pro Player's central location at the Dade-Broward line is ideal, and the stadium was built with soccer in mind, MLS wants venues where it is the primary tenant.

There's still talk of an A-League team playing at Lockhart in 2006. Such talk is entering its third year with no resolution in sight. The second-division league is not MLS, but it would at least supplement the marginally gratifying soccer diet we have now.

HAITIANS WIN HEARTS

While the random stream of one-off games mostly reminds locals of what they're missing, they do provide moments that sustain one's soccer affections.

No group of players made such an impression as Haiti's national team, which persevered under coach Fernando Clavijo to play its best soccer while a rebellion raged back home. With Clavijo footing part of the bill for basics like balls and shoes, Haiti never failed to give heart and soul in its quest to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. The Haitians fell far short after being eliminated by Jamaica, but the players and Clavijo were nothing short of heroic.

This year also let South Florida in on the Adu phenomenon. The teenager played his first game here just four days after making his MLS debut for D.C. United. He played three more times and each visit was marked by scores of kids begging for his autograph and getting it.

The best and most persistent fans were the Boca Juniors supporters who showed up at Lockhart Stadium just days after Hurricane Frances skirted Broward County. A game scheduled for a Monday night against Peru's Cienciano had to be pushed back to Wednesday and was nearly played in an empty stadium when organizers couldn't find enough police to provide security.

Fortunately, enough cops signed on for the detail so about 6,000 Boca fans, nearly all dressed in blue and yellow jerseys, could see their team. If we ever do get another MLS team, may it be even half as loved by its fans as Boca is by its.

BRANDI'S BOOK

United States women's star Brandi Chastain will sign copies of her new book It's Not About the Bra from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Barnes and Noble, 591 S. University Drive in Plantation. Chastain recently taped a segment of Celebrity Poker Showdown that will air on Bravo in February.